The founder of the group the Mad Lads, William C. Brown III, has died. William was 69.

Modern Soul fans will recall his HCRC Records single, ’Shining’ b/w ‘Come On And Go With Me’ from 1982.

William was one of the last two surviving founding members of the Mad Lads.

He had been in poor health in recent years following suffering a stroke.

The Mad Lads recorded several hits for Stax Records during the 1960s.

Originally going under the name, the Emeralds, they were created at the Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, comprising, originally of, John Gary Williams, Julius E. Green, William Brown and Robert Phillips.

They signed and recorded for Stax in 1964, releasing ‘The Sidewalk Surf’.

Other singles followed in 1966, including ‘I Want Someone’, ‘I Want A Girl’ and ‘Patch My Heart’.

John Gary Williams and William were then drafted into military service, and sent to Vietnam.

Throughout his career, Arthur has collaborated with many R&B household names.

He performed on over 5,000 recordings including, guitar session work on songs such as ‘Love Hangover’ (Diana Ross), ‘Don't Leave Me This Way’ (Thelma Houston), along with contributions for other Motown artists, including Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, Dynamic Superiors, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, 5th Dimension, Marvin Gaye's (‘Let's Get It On’), and The Temptations.

Joey Robinson, Jr., the man that headed up the famed Sugar Hill Records legacy, has died.
He was 53.

Joey passed away from cancer, following a struggle with the illness.

Following the passing of his father (Joe Robinson Snr) and his mother, (the Sugarhill artist Sylvia Robinson), Joey was the executor of the Sugarhill Music Publishing estate, keeping the family’s legacy alive.

Joey was the couple’s oldest son.

He was a member of the Sugarhill groups New Guys On The Block and the West Street Mob, becoming a member of the Sugarhill Gang in 1985.

The Sugar Hill Gang hit the charts in 1979, with the evergreen ‘Rapper’s Delight’.

Marcus was a professor of music at Oberlin University, in Oberlin Ohio, and was the co-founder of the Jazz Studies Program at The Detroit Metro Arts Complex, and the Jazz Development Workshop in Detroit.

He was a faculty member at Stanford Jazz Workshop, tutoring various performers, including Kenny Garrett, Regina Carter and Geri Allen.

The bassist in the Soul and Funk duo the Brothers Johnson, Louis Johnson, has died. Louis was 60.

Louis was found dead on the 21st of May at his home in Las Vegas. He was 60.

His death was confirmed by Jeff Mullen, the Brothers Johnson’s manager, who said the cause had not been determined.

Louis particular style of bass playing earned him the nickname of ‘Thunder-Thumbs’.

As a session bassist, Louis’s contributions can be heard on Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ album.

Louis played bass on on Michael’s ‘Off the Wall’ band Dangerous albums, also contributing to George Benson's evergreen ‘Give Me the Night’ album and played bass on Herb Alpert's 1979 album ‘Rise’.

Other album contributions included Stanley Clarke’s ‘Time Exposure’ album, George Duke’ ‘Guardian of the Light’ and ‘Thief in the Night’ albums, Jeffrey Osborne’s self titled debut and ‘Stay with Me Tonight’ albums and Quincy Jones' ‘Mellow Madness’ album.

Along with his brother, George, the Brothers Johnson scored several hits throughout the Seventies and early Eighties, including ‘Stomp’, ‘Get The Funk Out Ma Face’, ‘I’ll Be Good To You’, ‘Strawberry Letter 23’, ‘Ain’t We Funkin’ Now’ and ‘Streetwave’.

Louis released one solo album in 1985, entitled ‘Evolution’ for the Capitol Records imprint.

He retired from the business to spend more time with his wife and son, for a couple on years.

The group were founded in Indianapolis in 1969 by organist Bobby Watley, who recruited tenor saxman Eugene Barr, guitarist Steve Weakley, drummer Jimmy Munford and Cecil.

Funk Incorporated sent a tape to Prestige's A & R department in March 1971 postmarked 'Indianapolis' along with a note of recommendation from Brother Jack McDuff.

In the early 1970's, the original line-up came to the attention of Bob Porter, a highly regarded producer who signed Funk, Inc. to Prestige and paved the way for the band to record five albums for that label.

The band's line-up included Bobby Watley on organ.

After stressing a looser approach on the first three albums 'Funk Inc.', 'Chicken Lickin' and 'Hangin' Out', the group began to lose their way in the mid-1970's and turned to heavier production, with more arranging and background vocals.

This newer approach led to tension within the group, and Funk Inc. went their separate ways in 1976.

Sadly, the original members Jimmy Munford and Gene Barr passed away a few years earlier.

It was during the 1990's a few of Funk Inc.’s 1970's albums were released on CD.

Cecil was preceded in death by his wife, parents and brothers.

His surviving family members include his children: Cecil Hunt, Jr., Vicki Phillips-Terrell and Corrie Smith (Jerelle); siblings and other loving family and friends.

Cecil’s visitation will be on Friday the 17th of April 2015, 10am - 11am, with the Homegoing Celebration at 11am in Williams & Bluitt Funeral Home Peoples Chapel.

Percy Sledge, probably best remembered for his 1966 evergreen Soul hit, ‘When A Man Loves A Woman’, has died. Percy was 73, and had been suffering from liver cancer.

‘When A Man Loves A Woman’ became a Top 40 hit record.

The hit overshadowed, somewhat unfairly, a fine career spanning the late Sixties and early Seventies.

Born in Leighton, Alabama, his early career covered several roles (in farming and in health), before becoming a touring vocalist in the early Sixties.

He toured with the likes of the Esquires Combo whilst still working in hospital, which was where he was introduced (through the recommendation of a patient at the hospital) to the record producer Quin Ivy.

Percy’s debut single ‘When A Man Loves A Woman’ b/w ‘Love Me Like You Mean It’ was subject to a response record, this time round to another 1966 single from Esther Phillips entitled ‘When A Woman Loves A Man’.

Percy’s single reached number 1 in the U.S.A., and reached number 4 in 1966 and number 2 in 1987 in the U.K.

In the fifties he toured with several bands, who featured the likes of Illinois Jacquet, Elmo Hope, Big Maybelle, and Wynonie Harris.

He later toured the U.S. with B.B. King, Howard McGhee, Clark Terry, and Dizzy Gillespie.

In 1968, he released the album ‘Electrifying Sounds’ on Savoy Records.

He toured with the Count Basie Orchestra, and collaborated with Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus.

Paul performed with Thelonious Monk’s band at various shows throughout he US and Japan.

In 1974, he set up a 15-piece band for a tribute concert to Thelonious Monk at Carnegie Hall.

Throughout the seventies, Paul collaborated with Charles Mingus, performing with the Mingus’s big band at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1972.

During 1973 and 1974, he released 3 studio recordings on the Mainstream Records label.

As a teacher, he taught saxophone at Columbia University in 1973.

He went on to teach at Jersey City State College in 1974, the University of Hartford between 1975 and 1983), at Livingston College of Rutgers University, between 1978 and 1983, and at Duke University, between 1983 and 2003.

The Civil Rights campaigner, the Reverend Willie Taplin-Barrow, has died. She was 90.

Willie was not only the godmother of the current U.S. President, Barack Obama, she was also the mother of the late Soul Singer, Keith Barrow (who recorded ‘You Know You Want To Be Loved’).

She was nicknamed ‘The Little Warrior’, due to the fact she was only, just, 5 feet in height.

Born in Burton, Texas, to Nelson and Octavia Taplin, Willie was one of a large family.

She had six brothers and sisters.

Willie began her Civil Rights campaigning at a very early age, organising protests regarding the lack of bus transport for black students, who were made to walk to school, whilst the White kids were allowed to ride.

As a teenager, she relocated to Portland, Oregon, in order to study at the Warner-Pacific Theological Seminary.

Willie went on to work with other African American residents in Portland who combined to create one of the first black Churches of God.

In 1943, Willie joined the National Urban League.

In 1945, she joined the National Council of Negro Women.

During World War 2, Willie took on a role as a welder at the Kaiser shipyards in Swan Island, Washington.

It was there where she met, her soon to be, husband Clyde Barrow (the two were married for 56 years).

keith, willie and clyde barrow during the seventies

Willie and Clyde traveled to Chicago in June 1945, where she began working as the youth minister at the Langley Avenue Church of God.

In the 1950’s Willie worked as an organiser with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and in the 1960’s she worked on Operation Breadbasket with the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

In 1969, she was awarded the Woman Of The Year award in Chicago.

Willie was an active campaigner in the 1963 march on Washington and the 1965 march on Selma, Alabama.

She was also the co-chairman of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Willie was a strong campaigner against the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

She led a delegation to North Vietnam in 1968.

with jesse jackson in 1984

In 1984, Willie worked with Reverend Jesse Jackson as campaign manager for Jesse’s 1984 presidential bid.

In 1997, a street on Chicago's South Side was renamed in Reverend Barrow's honour.

Willie crusaded on issues such as A.I.D.S. in the black community, children's welfare, and domestic violence.

She was a civil rights icon hailed for her unwavering pursuit of justice.

She had been suffering from cancer, and passed away at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.

Lesley Gore will, probably, be best remembered for her 1963 pop hit, ‘It’s My Party, however her skills took her into the acting arena and, she later became an equal rights campaigner.

Born in New York City, Lesley attended the Dwight School for Girls, which is where she achieved her number one hit, ‘It's My Party’.

The single was followed by further hit’s, including ‘Judy's Turn to Cry’, ‘She's a Fool’, ‘You Don't Own Me’, ‘That's the Way Boys Are’, ‘Maybe I Know’, ‘Look of Love’ and the Grammy-nominated ‘Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows’.

In 1965, she appeared in the film ‘The Girls on the Beach’, performing the songs, ‘Leave Me Alone’, ‘It's Gotta Be You’ and ‘I Don't Want to Be a Loser’.

with quincy jones and millie small

Quincy Jones, worked with Lesley between 1963 and 1965, also releasing Marvin Hamlisch's first hit composition, ‘Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows’.

Quincy was later to cover a Lesley penned song, the title track from Lesley's 1976 album 'Love Me By Name', on his own 1978 project, 'Stuff Like That' (featuring Patti Austin).

Andraé attended hospital in December, due to pneumonia and congestive heart failure.

He returned to hospital this month, following the postponement of a tour, in Los Angeles. Andraé had suffered a heart attack.

Andraé Crouch was born in 1942 in San Francisco, along with his twin sister, Sandra.

When he was 11, Andraé’s father suggested he speak at a local church, during which, Andraé played the piano.

He penned his first Gospel song at the age of 14.

In 1960, Andraé became part of the Church of God in Christ Singers (a.k.a. COGICS).

The singers group included the artist, Billy Preston.

Andraé attended the Valley Junior College in California forming the gospel group, The Disciples in 1965, along with Perry Morgan and Bill Thedford.

He was then introduced to Tim Spencer of Manna Music Publishing, who went on to publish Andraé’s song ‘The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power’.

Tim took the Disciples to the Light Records founder Ralph Carmichael, who released their first album, ‘Take The Message Everywhere’, in 1968.

Andraé began to record his compositions that year, including the aforementioned ‘The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power’, along with ‘Through It All’, ‘Bless His Holy Name’, ‘Soon and Very Soon’, ‘Jesus is the Answer’, and ‘My Tribute’.

The Disciples went their separate ways in 1979.

Andraé pursued his solo career with an ensemble including Howard Smith, Linda McCrary, Táta Vega, and Kristle Murden and The Andraé Crouch Singers.

His recordings featured many major artists, including Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Dean Parks, David Paich, Phillip Bailey and Stevie Wonder.

Andraé has co-produced projects for The Winans, Danniebelle Hall, and Kristle Murden.